?Orlando?

How would I feel if it was someone from my religion who was a mass shooter/extremist that shot and killed people? What would I do?

How would I feel if some group that I strongly identify with were the victims of a deadly attack? How would I mourn?

I am not a Muslim but it does seem the majority of terror events in the past 40 years are related to radical islamists. Also I'm not gay but they do seem to be the focus of quite a bit of hate still, despite a more open society and changes in social norms that make being gay more acceptable.

I was once told that it was a characteristic of an intelligent, civilized person if they could see things from a point of view now there own. That's what I'm trying to do here, is have a thought exercise about both sides.

I'm trying to avoid blanket, absolute pronouncements but instead something more nuanced. In the end though they are just thoughts, which are not worth very much unless they lead to actions. Changes.

We've got protected freedoms of religion, speech and the bearing of arms. I want to keep these as open and free as possible as I think that's of the greatest benefit to all mankind.

The US has had splinter religious groups and extremist groups before. Anarchists, KKK, Jim Jones. Semi automatic firearms with high capacity magazines have been around since the 1930's. Tommy gun, BAR. We've had same day news coverage since the invention of the telegraph. And radio. The core components of "today" really aren't that new.

Most people, countries and entities act first in their own self interest. I'm going to do the same and the first thing I think of is my own personal security. Which sounds safer to you? Being at home, in bed, behind locked doors, gun next to my bed, in a decent neighborhood at 0200 or being buzzed, at a club, in a large city, unarmed, at 0200.

Goes to prove the sayings -Nothing good happens after midnight. -The worst feeling in the world is needing a gun and not having one. -Be careful who your friends are.

In the end I'm angry that 50 Americans died at the hands of a person influenced by something foreign to us. I want a strong, united America. One that sees the differences but ignores them for the greater good. Less division and fraction and more compromise. You can keep your individuality in being gay, religious, a gun owner, ect but at a secondary level with national citizenship, pride being of greater importance.

But then we're back at the selfish thing I mentioned earlier....

What am I going to do? Continue to support my moderate Islamic friends. Continue to want to fight and kill radicals opposed to freedom and democracy. Work on having more empathy for the victims in these cases. Be more aware of my personal security. My concealed handgun class is tonight. I'll be carrying my gun, legally, everywhere possible afterwards.

And before I post any statements on fb or whatever, I'm going to try and look at it from as many angles as possible. Then if I feel like what I have to say will add value, I'll say it.